Could Chrome do it?

By Dave Adamson in Reader

Posted in Uncategorized on July 14, 2009 at 5:07 pm

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The web has been a twitter with news of Chrome OS from the stalwart Google.
Google is a huge success, there’s no doubting it.  It’s up there with Biro and Hoover as a verb in everyday use.  Let’s face it, there’s relatively few companies that have that kind of brand recognition.  But, can the probably (but not definitely) Open Source Chrome OS do for the Open Source OS what Google has done for search engines?

I like Linux.  I like the idea of Open Source.  I like using new stuff and just seeing what it can do.  However, I’m sitting on the fence over the idea that Chrome OS could be a success to more than a niche market.

You see, whilst it may be successful amongst IT professionals, as a netbook/smartbook OS it’s going to struggle for shelf space amongst the behemoth that is Windows.  Go into any high street retailer (yes, people do still buy from there) and the majority of machines are likely to be Windows based, with the odd Mac if you’re lucky.

Whilst Linux based netbooks are still available, the number of sales of Windows based netbooks has been far superior (as has the sales of HD versus SSD based.)  The reason for this?  Well, people are familiar with Windows… though the use of Linux isn’t like a foreign language, it’s common to see people just buy what they know, regardless of the cost.

On top of this, Chrome OS apparently launches a browser.  It’s a Linux based OS that’s offering cloud functionality from a thin client.  Cloud computing may be the future, but why should it be at the expense of local application endeavours.  Why can’t it be produced as an OS that, amongst its many OS features, syncs my data with the cloud and allows me seaminglessly function from a locally stored app or the cloud app depending on my connectivity at the time.  How about extending Google Gears?

What I would have been more interested in is Google putting its weight behind the Linux community and bringing together the diaspora of distros, developers and doodahs into one giant something or the other.  See, I thought that bit through, didn’t I!   Okay, how about Google just developing their own full blown Linux distro… that seamlessly integrates cloud and local app functionality?

Oh, whilst we’re at it… did I miss the screen shots?  It’s not being suggested that this fantastic OS is going to revolutionise computing without showing anyone anything?  I mean, all that will lead to is speculation… which is what I’m doing here!

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